By Brent Fischthal, Head of Global Marketing, Koh Young.
NPI Technologies is a contract-based electronic manufacturing company specializing in the internal electronics for any device, at any volume. Founded in 2005 in Richardson, Texas, the company has grown to multiple locations, boasting more than ten dedicated SMT production lines, over 150 employees, and 22,000 square feet of production space.
Known for its collaborative approach and unwavering commitment to transparency and quality, NPI Technologies ensures customers feel confident and connected throughout the entire process. They pride themselves on being accessible, straightforward, ambitious, and cost-effective.
To understand how this family-run business has carved out a niche in the fast-paced world of high-mix, low-volume production, we spoke to General Manager Kiet Thai. He shared the company’s journey, from humble beginnings to becoming a key player in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston markets.
Kiet explained, “My father started the business in a garage back in 2005. We recognized a gap in the market for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing with good service and quality.” He added, “We started a second facility in Houston to service the local market there, bringing the same high-mix, low-volume prototyping to customers who want to be local and get products manufactured right away.”
While NPI now offers small to medium-volume production, their bread and butter remains high-mix, low-volume production with the reliability of delivering results quickly.
Improving Quality Through Inspection
Kiet recounted a pivotal moment when production quality issues drove the team to seek a solution. “It was primarily to make sure that we could check the solder joints consistently across the board, which was a challenge we faced early on,” he explained.
To make the right choice, Kiet and his team evaluated three other manufacturers alongside Koh Young in a side-by-side analysis. As Kiet elaborated, “We eliminated two of those manufacturers early, which left Koh Young head-to-head against another manufacturer. We were able to visit other local users who had the machines. This personal engagement gave us a good understanding of the company. Koh Young’s reputation was very highly regarded.”
Great Installation, Training, and Ease of Use
Assistant Production Manager Zaron Cardwell emphasized operator ease as a key factor in their decision. “The ability for operators to sit down and pick it up quickly and simply was invaluable for a high-mix shop like ours,” he said. He also noted, “Koh Young engineers came in, trained us, and gave us useful tips, which made me feel very comfortable with the equipment.”
Associate Production Engineer Parker Capers shared his enthusiasm, explaining, “The more we built up our library with parts, the faster programming became. Over time, we’ve seen improvements in speed,” adding, “Programming is easy, working with the software is easy! The 3D images of components are extremely helpful. It’s just, overall, an amazing solution.”
Regarding installation, Kiet concluded, “Koh Young is better than most manufacturers out there. They showed up as planned. The equipment arrived on schedule, was installed seamlessly, and the team was trained without any issues. The overall process was very smooth.”
Zaron agreed, adding, “There was a lot of communication about what was needed before installation, and that was a huge help. I didn’t have to scramble looking for bits, pieces, and parts when installation started.”
“It’s one thing to buy the equipment, but customer support is very important to us. We did our due diligence to ensure the people we knew running Koh Young machines had good experiences,”
General Manager Kiet Thai
Equipment That Performs and Delivers
Zaron highlighted the value of Koh Young’s expertise during implementation. “The Koh Young team shared tips that really filled in the gaps. Those little, unsaid things were very useful,” he said. “The machine is extremely good at measuring hairline solder issues, which has been a lifesaver. AOI is the first step after the placement process, so having that feedback quickly is extremely valuable.” He noted significant improvements in quality and performance since implementing the equipment.
Partnerships Are Key
Kiet emphasized the importance of strong partnerships. “It’s always scary bringing on a new manufacturer, but that’s why we went through a long vetting process,” he said. Looking ahead, he remarked, “SPI is something I’ve got my eye on, and we’re also exploring the dispensing inspection side of things. We have a need for that coming up as well.”
He added, “We are very loyal as a company, so we want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to communicate and maintain those loyalties. Deciding to go forward with Koh Young was important because we see future purchases within their product line that will help us ensure our quality remains solid.”
